Tokyo: The United States has sharply criticised China after a tense midair encounter between Chinese and Japanese military aircraft near Okinawa. Washington said China’s actions were unsafe and added that its commitment to Japan’s security remains firm.

The incident took place during Chinese naval drills near the Miyako Strait. Japan said it scrambled its fighter jets after receiving information about the exercises. Reports from China claimed that Japanese pilots pointed their radar at Chinese aircraft, but Japan’s defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi denied this and said Japanese forces followed normal procedures.

The United States called China’s radar behaviour dangerous and said such actions threaten peace in the region. Washington repeated that it will stand by Japan under their secu

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